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<0U .-©outl) Ecafl ct?. 

No. 155. 

Captain Thomas 
Wheeler's Nar- 
rative. 1675. 

A True Narrative of the Lord's Providences in various 
dispensations towards captain edward hlttchixsox 
of Boston and my self, and those that went with us 
into the xlpmuck country, and also to qljabaug, alias 
Brookfield: The said Captain Hutchinson having a 
Commission from the Honoured Council of this Col- 
ony to treat with several Sachems in those parts 
in order to the publick peace, and my self being 
also ordered by the said council to accompany hem 
with part of my troop for security from any danger 
that might be from the indians: and to assist him 
in the transaction of matters committed to him. 

The said Captain Hutchinson, and myself, with about twenty 
men or more marched from Cambridge to Sudburv, July 28, 
1675; anc l ^ rom thence into the Xipmuck Country, and finding 
that the Indians had deserted their towns, and we having gone 
until we came within two miles of Xew Norwitch, on July 31, 
(only we saw two Indians having an horse with them, whom we 
would have spoke with, but they fled from us and left their horse, 
which we took), we then thought it not expedient to march any 
further that way, but set our march for Brookfield, whither we 
came on the Lord's day about noon. From thence the same day. 
(being August 1.) we understanding that the Indians were about 
ten miles north west from us, we sent out four men to acquaint 
the Indians that we were not come to harm them, but our business 
was only to deliver a Message from our Honoured Governour 
and Council to them, and to receive their answer, we desiring 
to come to a Treaty of Peace with them, (though they had for 

93 




several dayes Bed from us,) they having before professed friend- 
ship, and promised fidelity to the English. When the messen- 
gers came to them they made an alarm, and gathered together 
about an hundred and fifty fighting men as near as they could 
judge. The young men amongst them were stout in their speeches, 
and surly in their carriage. But at length some of the chief 
Sachems promised to meet us on the next morning about 8 of 
the clock upon a plain w ithin three miles of Brookfield, with which 
answer the messengers returned to us. Whereupon, though their 
speeches and carriage did much discourage divers of our com- 
pany, yet we conceived that we had a cleer call to go to meet them 
at the place whither they had promised to come. Accordingly 
we with our men accompanied with three of the principal in- 
habitants of that town marched to the plain appointed; but the 
treacherous heathen intending mischief, (if they could have op- 
portunity), came not to the said place, and so failed our hopes of 
speaking with them there. Whereupon the said Captain Hutch- 
inson* and my self, with the rest of our company, considered what 
was best to be done, whether we should go any further towards 
them or return, divers of us apprehending much danger in case 
we did proceed, because the Indians kept not promise there with 
us. But the three men who belonged to Brookfield were so 
strongly perswaded of their freedome from any ill intentions 
towards us, (as upon other bounds, so especially because the 
greatest part of those Indians belonged to David, one of their 
chief Sachems, who was taken to be a great friend to the Eng- 
lish:) that the said Captain Hutchinson who was principally 
intrusted with the matter of Treaty with them, was thereby en- 
couraged to proceed and march forward towards a Swampe 

*[Capt Hutchinson had a very considerable farm in the Nipmug country, and had occa- 
sion to employ several of the Nipmug sachem's men in tilling and ploughing the ground, and 
therebv was known to the face of many of them. The sachems sent word that they would 
speak with none but Capt. Hutchinson himself, and appointed a meeting at such a tree and 
such a time. The guide that conducted him and those that were with him through the woods 
brought them to a swamn [as stated in the Narrative] not far off the appointed place, out of 
u lii< fa those Indians ran all at once and killed sixteen [but 8, as in Narrative] men. and wounded 
several others, of which wounds Capt. Hutchinson afterwards died, whose death is the more 
lamented in that his mother and several others of his relations died by the hands of the In- 
dians, now above 30 vcars since. Ms. Letter sent to London, dated Nov. 10, 1675, as quoted 
by Gov. Hutchinson. I. 266. 

Capt. Hutchinson belonged to Boston and had been one of its representatives, and con- 
siderably in publick life. He was son of W illiam and the celebrated Ann Hutchinson, and 
was brother-in-law to Major Thomas Savage, of Boston, who married Faith, the sister of 
Capt. H. He was the father of the Hon. Elisha Hutchinson, one of the Counsellors of Mas- 
sachusetts, who died to December, 171 7, aged 77. The last was father of Hon. Thomas 
Hutchinson, born 30 January. 1674; died 3 December. 1730, whose son, Gov. Thomas Hutch- 
inson, born o September. 1 711. was the celebrated historian of Massachusetts. / Savage's 
Winthrop. 246. It is a little singular that the Gov. should not have met with a Narrative- 
so particular respecting the fate of his great ancestor.] 

Q4 



where the Indians then were When w<» r*™» 

opportunity to cut us off- there be\Z Ztl \ 1' f tmg an 
side of the said hill wh™> <-)-, . g ? mUch brush on the 
When we LEtS?^^^ ^ l ° SUrpri2e US "* 

-vamp before us, £2 ™!^ 

to go forwards, and there ban* nn L • 1 ° ur horses 

as we could to get up the steep a'J ? rock hm but Th? 

our danger was the vrextrr woe V } ' Ut the greater 

o f s » mL y of s ^„siSd:rdS«r cy c^ f p r rva,ion 

up part of the hill without am- hurt T„ •> ■ bemg S one 
men to be fallen by the e emi« s l 1, ,,E fj V '", g some rf mv 
Indians, no, calling on ™»t ^ere kS ton " PO " 

^rttp'ltTb^,"^ 

falling, I was forced 3^1- m6 ' S ° that he fauIt ™§ and 
but a g few rods dSant m™' 'm? ° f V**™ ^ then 
ing with the rest of the company nSeTrn ^ ^ 
fearing that I was either £ } ' missed , me amongst them, and 
towards the swam^e a"a n, heCd 

gerous wound in the reTns h n received a dan- 

therein a loving and dutiful s „„, ST^S™^ 



95 



4 

into great peril of his life to help me in that distress, there being 
many of the enemies about me, my son set me on his own horse, 
and so escaped a while on foot himself, until he caught an horse 
whose rider was slain, on which he mounted, and so through 
God's great mercy we both escaped. But in this attempt for my 
deliverance he received another dangerous wound by their shot 
in his left arm. There were then slain to our great grief eight 
men. viz. — Zechariah Philips of Boston, Timothy Farlow,* of Bill- 
ericay, Edward Coleborn, of Chelmsford, Samuel Smedly, of 
Concord, Sydrach Hopgood, of Sudbury, Serjeant Eyres, f Ser- 
jeant Prichard,J and Corporal Coy,§ the inhabitants of Brook- 
held aforesaid. It being the good pleasure of God, that they 
should all there fall by their hands, of whose good intentions they 
were so confident, and whom they so little mistrusted. There 
were also then live persons wounded, viz. — Captain Hutchinson, 
my self, and my son Thomas, as aforesid, Corporal French, || 
of Billerica y, who having killed an Indian, was (as he was tak- 
ing up his gun) shot, and part of one of his thumbs taken off, 
and also dangerously wounded through the body near the shoulder; 
the fifth was John Waldoe, of Chelmsford, who was not so dan- 
gerously wounded as the rest. They also then killed five of our 
horses, and wounded some more, which soon died after they came 
to Brookfield. Upon this sudden and unexpected blow given 
us, ( wherein we desire to look higher than man the instrument,) 
we returned to the town as fast as the badness of the way, and 
the weakness of our wounded men would permit, we being then 
ten miles from it. All the while we were going, we durst not 
stay to stanch the bleeding of our wounded men, for fear the 
enemy should have surprized us again, which they attempted 
to do, and had in probability done, but that we perceiving which 
way they went, wheeled off to the other hand, and so by God's 
good providence towards us, they missed us, and we all came 
readily upon, and safely to the town, though none of us knew 
the way to it, those of the place being slain, as aforesaid, and we 
avoiding any thick woods and riding in open places to prevent 
danger by them. Being got to the town, we speedily betook our 
-elves to one of the largest and strongest houses therein, where 

♦[Timothy Farley was son of George Farley, one of the first settlers of Billerica.] • 

[tjohn Ayres. I Joseph Pritchard. § John Coye.] 

[Corporal John French was son of Lieut. William French of Billerica. He went from 
Cambridge with hi< father to Billerica, about 1654, and lived there until his death in October, 
1 71 2, aged about 78.] 

96 



5 



we fortified our selves in the best manner we could in such straits 
of time, and there resolved to keep garrison, though we were 
but few, and meanly fitted to make resistance against so furious 
enemies. The news of the Indians 1 treacherous dealing with 
us, and the loss of so many of our company thereby, did so amaze 
the inhabitants of the town, that they being informed thereof by 
us, presently left their houses, divers of them carrying very little 
away with them, they being afraid of the Indians sudden coming 
upon them; and so came to the house we were entered into, 
very meanly provided of cloathing, or furnished with provisions. 

I perceiving my self to be disenabled for the discharge of the 
duties of my place by reason of the wound I had received, and 
apprehending that the enemy would soon come to spoyle the 
town, and assault us in the house, I appointed Simon Davis, 
of Concord, James Richardson,* and John Fiske,t of Chelms- 
ford, to manage affairs for our safety with those few men whom 
God hath left us, and were fit for any service, and the inhabi- 
tants of the said town; who did well and commendably perform 
the duties of the trust committed to them with much courage 
and resolution through the assistance of our gracious God, who 
did not leave us in our low and distressed state, but did merci- 
fully appear for us in our greatest need, as in the sequel will 
clearly be manifested. Within two hours after our coming to 
the said house, or less, the said Captain Hutchinson and my 
self posted away Ephraim Curtis, of Sudbury, and Henry Young, 
of Concord, to go to the Honoured Council at Boston, to give 
them an account of the Lord's dealing with us, and our present 
condition. When they came to the further end of the town they 
saw the enemy rifling of houses which the inhabitants had for- 
saken. The post fired upon them, and immediately returned to 
us again, they discerning no safety in going forward and being 
desirous to inform us of the enemies' actings, that we might the 
more prepare for a sudden assault by them. Which indeed pres- 
ently followed, for as soon as the said post was come back to us, 
the barbarous heathen pressed upon us in the house with great 
violence, sending in their shot amongst us like haile through the 

* [James Richardson is supposed to have been brother to Capt. Josiah Richardson, of 
Chelmsford, who died 22 July. 1695, the ancestor of the Hon. Judge Richardson, of Chester. 
He went from Woburn. the hive from which issued most of the Richardsons. to Chelmsford, 
in 1 66-. The first Richardson who came to the Massachusetts colony was Ezekiel Rich- 
ardson, who was made a freeman, in May, 1631. and was afterwards a deputy of the General 
Court. Samuel and Thomas were made freemen. 2 May, 1638. and they settled in Woburn. 
as did also, it is believed, Ezekiel. though not upon his first coming here.] 

t [John Fiske was son of the Rev. John Fiske, first minister of Chelmsford.] 

97 



6 



walls, and shouting as if they would have swallowed us up alive; 
but our good God wrought wonderfully for us, so that there was 
but one man wounded within the house, viz. — the said Henry 
Young, who, looking out of the garret window that evening, was 
mortally wounded by a shot, of which wound he died within two 
dayes after. There was the same day another man slain, but 
not in the house; a son of Serjeant Prichard's adventuring out 
of the house wherein we were, to his Father's house not far from 
it, to fetch more goods out of it, was caught by those cruel ene- 
mies as they were coming towards us, who cut off his head, kick- 
ing it about like a foot-ball, and then putting it upon a pole, they 
set it up before the door of his Father's house in our sight. 

The night following the said blow, they did roar against us like 
so many wild bulls, sending in their shot amongst us till towards 
the moon rising, which was about three of the clock; at which 
time they attempted to fire our house by hay and other combusti- 
ble matter which they brought to one corner of the house, and 
set it on fire. Whereupon some of our company were necessi- 
tated to expose themselves to very great danger to put it out. 
Simon Davis, one of the three appointed by my self as Captain, 
to supply mv place by reason of my wounds, as aforesaid, he being 
of a lively spirit, encouraged the souldiers within the house to 
fire upon the Indians; and also those that adventured out to 
put out the fire, (which began to rage and kindle upon the house 
side,) with these and the like words, that God is with us, and 
fights for us, and will deliver us out of the hands of tliese heathen; 
which expressions of his the Indians hearing, they shouted and 
scoffed, saying: now see how your God delivers you, or will deliver 
you, sending in many shots whilst our men were putting out the 
fire. But the Lord of hosts wrought very graciously for us, in 
preserving our bodies both within and without the house from 
their shot, and our house from being consumed by fire, we had 
but two men wounded in that attempt of theirs, but we appre- 
hended that we killed divers of our enemies. I being desirous 
to hasten intelligence to the Flonoured Council of our present 
great distress, we being so remote from any succour, (it being 
between sixty and seventy miles from us to Boston, where the 
Council useth to sit) and fearing our ammunition would not last 
long to withstand them, if they continued so to assault us, I spake 
to Ephraim Curtis to adventure forth again on that service, and 
to attempt it on foot, as the way wherein there was most hope of 
getting away undiscovered; he readilv assented, and accordinglv 
98 



7 



went out, but there were so many Indians every where thereabouts, 
that he could not pass, without apparent hazard of life, so he 
came back again, but towards morning the said Ephraim ad- 
ventured forth the third time, and was fain to creep on his hands 
and knees for some space of ground, that he might not be dis- 
cerned by the enemy, who waited to prevent our sending if they 
could have hindered it. But through God's mercy he escaped 
their hands, and got safely to Marlborough, though very much 
spent, and ready to faint by reason of want of sleep before he 
went from us, and his sore travel night and day in that hot season 
till he got thither, from whence he went to Boston; yet before 
the said Ephraim got to Marlborough, there was intelligence 
brought thither of the burning of some houses, and killing some 
cattel at Quabaug, by some who were going to Connecticot, but 
they seeing what was done at the end of the town, and hearing 
several guns shot off further within the town, the}" durst proceed 
no further, but immediately returned to Marlborough, though 
they then knew not what had befallen Captain Hutchinson 'and 
myself, and company, nor of our being there, but that timely 
intelligence they gave before Ephraim Curtis his coming to Marl- 
borough, occasioned the Honoured Major Willards turning his 
march towards Quabaug, for their relief, who were in no small 
danger every hour of being destroyed; the said Major being, 
when he had that intelligence, upon his march another way as 
he was ordered by the honoured council, as is afterwards more 
fully expressed. 

The next day being August 3d, they continued shooting and 
shouting, and proceeded in their former wickedness, blasphem- 
ing the name of the Lord, and reprc aching us, his afflicted ser- 
vants, scoffing at our prayers as they were sending in their shot 
upon all quarters of the house and many of them went to the 
town's meeting house, (which was within twenty rods of the house 
in which we were) who mocked saying, come and pray, and sing 
psalms, and in contempt made an hideous noise somewhat re- 
sembling singing. But we, to our power, did endeavour our 
own defence, sending our shot amongst them, the Lord giving 
us courage to resist them, and preserving us from the destruction 
they sought to bring upon us. On the evening following, we saw 
our enemies carrying several of their dead or wounded men on 
their backs, who proceeded that night to send in their shot, as 
they had done the night before, and also still shouted as if the 
day had been certainly theirs, and they should without fail, have 

99 



s 



prevailed against us, which they might have the more hopes of 
in regard that we discerned the coming of new companies to them 
to assist and strengthen them, and the unlikelihood of any com- 
ing to our help. They also used several stratagems to fire us, 
namely, by wild fire in cotton and linnen rags with brimstone in 
them, which rags they tyed to the piles of their arrows, sharp for 
the purpose, and shot them to the roof of our house, after they had 
set them on fire, which would have much endangered the burning 
thereof, had we not used means by cutting holes through the 
roof, and otherwise, to beat the said arrows down, and God being 
pleased to prosper our endeavours therein. — They carryed more 
combustible matter, as flax and hay, to the sides of the house, 
and set it on fire, and then flocked apace towards the door of the 
house, either to prevent our going forth to quench the fire, as we 
had done before, or to kill our men in their attempt to go forth, 
or else to break into the house by the door; whereupon we were 
forced to break down the wall of the house against the fire to put 
it out. They also shot a ball of wild fire into the garret of the 
house, which fell amongst a great heap of flax or tow therein, 
which one of our souldiers, through God's good Providence soon 
espyed, and having water read}- presently quenched it; and so 
we were preserved by the keeper of Israel, both our bodies from 
their shot, which they sent thick against us, and the house from 
being consumed to ashes, although we were but weak to defend 
our selves, we being not above twenty and six men with those of 
that small town, who were able for any service, and our enemies, 
as I judged them about, (if not above,) three hundred, I speak 
of the least, for many there present did guess them to be four or 
five hundred. It is the more to be observed, that so little hurt 
should be done by the enemies' shot, it commonly piercing the 
walls of the house, and flying amongst the people, and there 
being in the house fifty women and children besides the men be- 
fore mentioned. But abroad in the yard, one Thomas Wilson 
of that town, being sent to fetch water for our help in further need, 
(that which we had being spent in putting out the fire,) was shot 
by the enemy in the upper jaw and in the neck, the anguish of 
which wound was such at the first that he cried out with a great 
noise, by reason whereof the Indians hearing him rejoyced and 
triumphed at it; but his Avound was healed in a short time, praised 
be God. 

On Wednesday, August the 4th, the Indians fortifyed them- 
selves at the meeting house, and the barne, belonging to our 
100 



9 



house, which they fortified both at the great doors, and at both 
ends, with posts, rails, boards, and hay, to save themselves from 
our shot. They also devised other stratagems, to fire our house, 
on the night following, namely, they took a cart, and filled it with 
flax, hay and candle-wood, and other combustible matter, and 
set up planks, fastened to the cart, to save themselves from the 
danger of our shot. Another invention they had to make the 
more sure work in burning the house. They got many poles 
of a considerable length and bigness, and spliced them together 
at the ends one of another, and made a carriage of them about 
fourteen rods long, setting the poles in two rows with peils laid 
cross over them at the front end, and dividing them said poles 
about three foot asunder, and in the said front of this their 
carriage they set a barrel, having made an hole through both 
heads, and put an axle-tree through them, to which they fastened 
the said poles, and under every joynt of the poles where they 
were spliced, they set up a pair of truckle wheeles to bear up 
the said carriages, and they loaded the front or fore-end thereof 
with matter fit for firing, as hay, and flaxe, and chips, &c 
Two of these instruments they prepared, that they might convey 
fire to the house, with the more safety to themselves, they 
standing at such a distance from our shot, whilst they wheeled 
them to the house: great store of arrows they had also prepared 
to shoot fire upon the house that night; which we found after 
they were gone, they having left them there. But the Lord who 
is a present help in times of trouble, and is pleased to make his 
people's extremity his opportunity, did graciously prevent them 
of effecting what they hoped they should have done by the afore- 
said devices, partly by sending a showre of rain in season, whereby 
the matter prepared being wett would not so easily take fire as 
it otherwise would have done, and partly by aide coming to our 
help. For our danger would have been very great that night, 
had not the only wise God (blessed for ever) been pleased to send 
to us about an hour within night the worshipful Major Willard 
with Captain Parker of Groaton, and forty-six men more with 
five Indians to relieve us in the low estate into which we were 
brought; our eyes were unto him the holy one of Israel; in him 
we desired to place our trust, hoping that he would in the time 
of our great need appear for our deliverance, and confound all 
their plots by which they thought themselves most sure to prevail 
against us; and God who comforteth the afflicted, as he com- 
forted the holy apostle Paul by the coming of Titus to him, so 



IO 



he greatly comforted us his distressed servants both souMiers 
and town inhabitants, by the coming of the said honoured Major, 
and those with him. In whose so soon coming to us the good 
providence of God did marvellously appear; for the help "that 
came to us by the honoured council's order (after the tydings 
they received by our post sent to them) came not to us till Satur- 
day, August 7, in the afternoon, nor sooner could it well come 
in regard of their distance from us, i.e. if we had not had help 
before that time, we see not how we could have held out, the num- 
ber of the Indians so encreasing, and they making so many as- 
saults upon us, that our ammunition before that time would 
have been spent, and ourselves disenabled for any resistance, 
we being but few, and alwaies fain to stand upon our defence; 
that we had little time for refreshment of our selves either by food 
or sleep; the said honoured Major's coming to us so soon was 
thus occasioned; he had a commission from the honoured council 
(of which himself was one) to look after some Indians to the west- 
ward of Lancaster and Groaton, (where he himself lived) and 
to secure them, and was upon his march towards them on the 
foresaid Wednesday in the morning, August 4th, when tydings 
coming to Marlborough by those that returned thither as they 
were going to Connecticot, concerning what they saw at Brooktield 
as aforesaid, some of Marlborough knowing of the said Major's 
march from Lancaster that morning presently sent a post to ac- 
quaint him with the information they had received; the Major 
was gone before the post came to Lancaster; but there was one 
speedily sent after him, who overtook him about rive or six miles 
from the said town; he being acquainted, that it was feared, 
that Brooktield (a small town of about fifteen or sixteen families) 
was either destroyed, or in great danger thereof, and conceiving it 
to require more speed to succour them (if they were not past help) 
than to proceed at present, as he before intended, and being also 
very desirous (if it were possible) to afford relief to them, (he 
being then not above thirty miles from them) he immediately 
altered his course and marched with his company towards us: 
and came to us about an hour after it was dark as aforesaid; 
though he knew not then, either of our being there nor of what 
had befallen us at the swampe and in the house those two days 
before. 

The merciful proAadence of God also appeared in preventing 
the danger that the honoured Major and his company might 
have been in, when they came near us, for those beastly men, our 

102 



1 1 



enemies skilful to destroy, indeavoured to prevent any help from 
coming to our relief, and therefore sent down sentinels, (some 
nearer and some further off) the furthest about two miles from 
us, who if they saw any coming from the bay they might give 
notice by an alarm. And there were about an hundred of them 
who for the most part kept at an house some little distance from 
us, by which if any help came from the said bay, they must pass, 
and so they intended (as we conceive) having notice by their 
sentinels of their approach to way-lay them, and if they could, 
to cut them off before they came to the house where we kept. 

But as we probably guess, the}* were so intent and buisy in 
preparing their instruments (as abovesaid) for our destruction 
by fire, that they were not at the house where they used to keep 
for the purpose aforesaid, and that they heard not their sentinels 
when they shot; and so the Major's way was clear from danger 
till he came to our house. And that it was their purpose so to 
have fallen upon him, or any other coming to us at that house, 
is the more probable in that (as we have since had intelligence 
from some of the Indians themselves) there were a party of them 
at another place who let him pass by them without the least hurt 
or opposition, waiting for a blow to be given him at the said house, 
and then they themselves to fall upon them in the reare, as they 
intended to have done with us at the swamp, in case we had rled 
back as before expressed. The Major and company were no 
sooner come to the house, and understood (though at first they 
knew not they were English who were in the house, but thought 
that they might be Indians, and therefore were ready to have 
shot at us, till we discerning they were English by the Major's 
speaking, I caused the trumpet to be sounded) that the said Cap- 
tain Hutchinson, myself, and company with the town's inhabi- 
tants were there, but the Indians also discerned that there were 
some come to our assistance, whereupon they spared not their 
shot, but poured it out on them ; but through the Lords goodness, 
though they stood not farr asunder one from another, they killed 
not one man, wounded only two of his company; and killed the 
Major's son's* horse; after that, we within the house perceived 

*[It does not appear which of the Major's nine sons is referred to. Of a family which 
has afforded so many descendants, and some of them highly distinguished, it may be proper 
to give their names and the times of their births, so far as they have been ascertained after 
most patient and diligent research. 

1. Josiah Willard (no record of his birth has been found). He married Hannah 
Hosmer in 1657. 

2. Simon Willard, born 31st Januarv, 1640. 

3. Samuel Willard (the time of his birth has not been ascertained") . He married 
Abigail Sherman, and after her death, Eunice Tvng. 

I03 



12 



the Indians shooting so at them, we hastened the Major and all 
his company into the house as fast as we could, and their horses 
into a little yard before the house, where they wounded five other 
horses that night; after they were come into the house to us, the 
enemies continued their shooting some considerable time, so 
that we may well say, had not the Lord been on our side when 
these cruel heathens rose up against us, they had then swallowed 
us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us. But 
wherein they delt proudly, the Lord was above them. 

When they saw their divers designs unsuccessful, and their 
hopes therein disappointed, they then fired the house and barne 
(wherein they had before kept to lye in wait to surprise any com- 
ing to us) that by the light thereof they might the better direct 
their shot at us, but no hurt was done thereby, praised be the 
Lord. And not long after they burnt the meeting house wherein 
their fortifications were, as also the barne, which belonged to 
our house, and so perceiving more strength come to our assist- 
ance, they did, as we suppose, despair of effecting any more mis- 
chief against us. And therefore the greatest part of them, towards 
the breaking of the day, August the fifth, went away and left us, 
and we were quiet from any further molestations by them; and 
on that morning we went forth of the house without danger, and 
so daily afterwards, only one man was wounded about two dayes 
after, as he went out to look after horses, by some few of them 
sculking thereabouts. We cannot tell how many of them we 
killed, in all that time, but one, that afterwards was taken, con- 
fessed that there were killed and wounded about eighty men or 
more. — Blessed be the Lord God of our salvation who kept us 
from being all a prey to their teeth. But before they went away 
they burnt all the town except the house we kept in, and another 
that was not then finished. They also made great spoyle of the 
cattel belonging; to the inhabitants; and after our entrance into 
the house, and during the time of our confinement there, they 
either killed or drove away almost all the horses of our company. 

We continued there, both well and wounded, towards a fort- 
night, and August the thirteenth Captain Hutchinson and my 

4. Henry Willard, born 4th June, 1655. 

5. John Willard, born 12th February, 1657. 

6. Daniel Willard, born 26th December, 1658. 

7. Joseph Willard, born 4th April, 1660. 

8. Benjamin Willard, born (time not ascertained). 

9. Jonathan Willard, born 14th December, 1669. 
The first six were probably born in Concord, Mass. 

The 7th and 9th and perhaps the 8th were born in Lancaster. Further notices of this 

family may be found in Farmer cr 1 Moore's Collections, Vol. I.] 

104 



13 



self, with the most of those that had escaped without hurt, and 
also some of the wounded, came from thence; my son Thomas 
and some other wounded men, came not from thence, being not 
then able to endure travel so farr as we were from the next town, 
till about a fortnight after. We came to Marlborough on August 
the fourteenth, where Captain Hutchinson being not recovered 
of his wound before his coming from Brookrleld and overtyred 
with his long journv, by reason of his weakness, quickly after 
grew worse, and more dangerously ill, and on the nineteenth 
dav of the said month dyed, and was there the day after buried, 
the Lord being pleas?! to deny him a return to his own habita- 
tion, and his near relations at Boston, though he was come the 
greatest part of his journv thitherward. The inhabitants of the 
town also, not long after, men, women, and children, removed 
safely with what they had left, to several places, either where they 
had lived before their planting or sitting down there; or where 
they had relations to receive and entertain them. The honoured 
Major Willard stayed at Brookrleld some weeks after our coming 
awav, there being several companies of souldiers sent up thither 
and" to Haclly and the towns thereabouts, which are about thirty 
miles from Brookrleld, whither also the Major went for a time 
upon the service of the country in the present warr, and from 
whence there being need of his presence for the ordering of mat- 
ters concerning his own regiment, and the safety of the towns 
belonging to it, he through God's goodness and mercy, returned 
in safety and health to his house, and dear relations at Groaton. 

Thus I have endeavoured to set down and declare both what 
the Lord did against us in the loss of several person's lifes, and 
the wounding of others, some of which wounds were very painful 
in dressing, and long ere they were healed, besides many dangers 
that we were in, and fears that we were exercised with; and also 
what great things he was pleased to do for us in frustrating their 
many attempts, and vouchsafing such a deliverance to us. The 
Lord avenge the blood that hath been shed by these heathen, 
who hate us without a cause, though he be most righteous in all 
that hath befallen there, and in all other parts of the country; 
he help us to humble ourselves before him, and with our whole 
hearts, to return to him, and also to improve all his mercies, 
which we still enjoy, that so his anger may cease towards us and 
he may be pleased either to make our enemies at peace with us, 
or more, destroy them before us. I tarried at Marlborough 
with Captain Hutchinson until his death, and came home to 

J05 



14 



Concord, August the 21, (though not thoroughly recovered of 
my wound) and so did others that went with me. But since I 
am reasonable well, though I have not the use of my hand and 
arm as before: my son Thomas, though in great hazard of life 
for some time after his return to Concord, vet is now very weil 
cured, and his strength well restored! Oh that we could praise 
the Lord for his great goodness towards us. Praised be his 
name, that though he took away some of us, yet was pleased to 
spare so many of us, and adde unto our dayes; he help us whose 
souls he hath delivered from death, and eyes from tears, and 
feet from falling, to walk before him in the land of the living, till 
our great change come, and to sanctifie his name in all his ways 
about us, that both our afflictions, and our mercies may quicken 
us to live more to his glory all our daves.* 

Passage from Rev. Nathan Fiske's Historical Discourse on Brook- 
field, December 31, 1775. 

As this town is of ancient date, and, compared with most of the towns 
in this county, even with the shire-town itself, is like an elder matron 
amidst a group of younger]}- females; and as it has been famous for Indian 
inhabitants, Indian wars, and Indian barbarities, I have for a considerable 
time felt a strong inclination and (k-siiv to search into its history, to find 
out its origin, the difficulties and hardships of its first English inhabitants, 
its gradual increase and progressive improvements. In short, I wished 
to be acquainted with whatever was curious, entertaining, or instructive in 
the circumstances of the town, and the transactions or sufferings of its earlv 
settlers. With this view I have searched all the histories of the country I 
could meet with — inquired for manuscripts that might have preserved a cir- 
cumstantial account of some occurrences which the printed histories are 
wholly silent about, or give but a general sketch of. I have consulted many 
of the descendants of the first settlers, and those that have been most ac- 
quainted with the affairs of the town. I have perused records, &c. But 
the result of my inquiries does not wholly satisfy my curiosity or answer 
my wish. No intelligence is to be obtained concerning some' things that 
have happened; and many circumstances relative to divers events that 
might have been entertaining at this day, have not been handed down by 
tradition. Our ancestors were under great disadvantages as to making 
extensive observations, or keeping exact records, or preserving them for the 
perusal of posterity. However, I have gleaned a few things relative to the 
settling and subsequent improvements of this town, which may serve as 
a clue to trace the conduct of divine Providence, to point out' manv in- 
stances of the divine goodness, to lead our minds to some religious reflec- 
tion^ to excite gratitude in our hearts for the wonderful works which God 

* [The 21st October, 1675, was kept by Capt. Wheeler and those who returned with him 
as a day of praise and thanksgiving to God for their remarkable deliverance and safe re- 
turn when Rev. Edward Bulkley, of Goncord, preached a sermon to them, from "What 
shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?" Psalm cxvi. 12 ] 



106 



15 



hath done for us and our fathers, to encourage our hope and trust in the 
same power and goodness to protect and bless us and our posterity, and 
to engage us to keep his commandments. 

I cannot find exactly at how early a period the first English settlements 
began in this town, nor who the persons were that began them. A tribe 
of Indians were the original inhabitants; nor did they move off before or 
at the coming of the white people, but both English and Indians lived to- 
gether in friendship for some time. 

These Indians were commonly called Quaboag Indians. Governor 
Hutchinson in his history says, the Nipnet or Nipmuck Indians ambushed 
the partv that went to treat with them at Meminimisset. I suppose it was 
in conjunction with the Indians of Quaboag. For these, partaking in the 
uneasiness and commotion that Philip was endeavoring to excite among 
all the tribes through the country, and growing somewhat shy of their Eng- 
lish neighbors, and taking offence at some damages they had sustained 
from their cattle, they quitted their lands here just before the war broke 
out, and went up to Meminimisset, and assisted in the ambuscade and in 
burning Brookiield. After which they returned no more, unless for mis- 
chief, but scattered among other Indians till they were no more distinguished 
or known. From a similarity in divers words in their language, it is prob- 
able they intermixed with the Stockbridge Indians. 

It is certain there were English inhabitants here many years before there 
were any between this place and Marlborough on the east, Connecticut 
River on the west, and Canada on the north. 

In the year 1660, i.e., forty years after the nrst settlement of Plymouth, 
several of the inhabitants of Ipswich petitioned the Great and General 
Court for a grant of land in these parts. The Court granted them six miles 
square, or so much land as should be contained in such a compass, near 
Quaboag Pond, upon certain conditions, " provided they have twenty fam- 
ilies there resident within three years, and that they have an able minister 
settled there within the said term, such as this court shall approve; and 
that they make due provision in some way or other for the future, either 
by setting apart of lands or what else shall be thought mete for the con- 
tinuance of the ministry among them." I insert this, principally as a speci- 
men of the pious principles that actuated our ancestors, and the care which 
the legislative body took that new settlements should have the gospel and 
the administration of the ordinances among them, as early, as statedly, and as 
regularly as possible. And no doubt it is owing to this care, under Provi- 
dence, that the country flourished so greatly both in spirituals and tem- 
porals; for it hath been often observed that no people was ever the poorer, 
but on the contrary flourished the faster, for maintaining the gospel minis- 
try among them. And it is undoubtedly owing to the wise and pious pro- 
vision of our laws and civil establishment, obliging parishes to settle and 
support evangelical and learned ministers, that the inhabitants of Massa- 
chusetts Bay, Connecticut, and New Hampshire are so much better in- 
structed in the things of religion, and are so much more remarkable for the 
strict observation of the Sabbath, and for good morals than those of most 
of the other colonies. 

This was the legal origin of the town. These men, that they might have 
a just and equitable as well as a legal right to the land, purchased it of the 
natives, who claimed and possessed it, and it was conveyed to them by deed. 
It is somewhat probable there were small beginnings made here by the 
English before this grant. But this is not material. It is certain that from 

107 



1 6 

small and early beginnings the settlement increased, even under the dis- 
advantages and discouragements of that day, so that upon application made 
to the General Court in the year 1673 the inhabitants were incorporated 
into a township by the name of Brookfield. And in the year 1675, when 
the town was burnt, they had at least twenty families, a meeting-house, and 
preaching, though no settled minister. . 



Captain \\ heeler's Narrative is here reprinted from the Collections of the New Hamp- 
shire Historical Society. II.. 1827; and the notes there added are given at the foot of the pre- 
ceding pages. The preliminary note is as follows: "The following Narrative is verv scarce, 
and must have been so when Governor Hutchinson wrote his Historv of Massachusetts, as 
it does not appear, in giving an account of the expedition (Historv ot Massachusetts. Vol. I. 265) 
in which his ancestor sustained such an important part and lost his life, that the historian 
has made any reference whatever to Captain Wheeler's Narrative, which he would mcst 
likely have don?, had he known of its existence. The following is printed from a copv which 
appears to have belonged to Deputy Governor Danforth of Cambridge, and which has been 
obligingly furnished the Publishing Committee by a Gentleman of Salem, Mass.. who is known 
for hr> very minute and thorough researches in the early historv of our countrv. A few notes 
have been handed th? Committee by a member of the Society." 

Captain Wheeler's Narrative is a valuable record of one of the most tragical episodes 
m King Philips War, and well illustrates the hardships and dangers under which the settle- 
ment of Massachusetts was pushed from Boston and the coast back to the Ccmw ciicut^ On 
u V- ?^°v the / ear T 775 the Rev. Nathan Fiske. D.D.. pastor of the Third Church in 
Brookheld. delivered an historical discourse, in which he gave an account of the settlement ot 
the town and its distresses during the Indian wars. The principal portions of this address— 
which was published by Thomas and John Fleet, Boston. 1776— were printed in the Col- 
lections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, I.. 1792. The opening pages of this, cover- 
ing the early history of the town up to the time of the event- described in Captain Wheeler's 
Narrative, are printed above. Dr. Fiske 's account of these latter events is taken chieflv from 
Governor Hutchinson s History of Massachusetts. There is printed in the same volume of 
the Historical Societv s Collections a description of the town of I rookheld. bv Dr. Fi-ke. 

In 1828, Rev. Joseph I. Foot gave an historical discourse covering the earlv historv of 
Brookheld; and in the second edition of this. 1843. Wheeler's Narrative and other interest- 
ing material were included. The oration by Rev. Lvman Whiting, D.D.. at the celebration 
m i860 of the two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Brookheld, is an important 
address. In the Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Societv. October. 1887 are two 
papers of special value: one bv Rev. Grindall Reynolds, on "King Philip's War. with special 
reference to the Attack on Brookheld in August, 167=;"; the other bv Lucius R Page on 
W heelers Defeat, 1675: Where?" There now exists a nourishing Quaboag Historical 
Society, drawing its members from the several towns made up from th- ancient Brookheld* 
and the studies which it has prompted have high worth. 



PUBLISHED BY 

THE DIRECTORS OF THE OLD SOUTH WORK, 

Old South Meeting-house, Boston, Mass. 



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